Grouser for tractor-treads



F. H. MEYER.

GROUSER FOR TRACTOR TREADS.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 24. 1918.

1,392,693, Patented 0013.4, 1921.

WITNESS INVENTOR r w F'E'ED H. MEYER a. J, W R

19/ A TTORNE YS PTNT FERID H. MEYER, OF OAKLAN'D, CALIFORNIA.

GROUSER FOR TRACTOR-TREADS.

Application filed December 24, 1918.

To all'wkomz'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, FERD H. lWnYnR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented a new and useful G-rouser for Tractor-Treads, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to detachable grousers for the treads of tractors.

An object of the invention is to provide a detachable grouser for the treads of driving wheels of round wheel tractors, or the treads of the track-links of track-laying tractors. v 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is readily attached and detached without the use of tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a grouser flexibly attached to the tread so that movement thereof frees it from accumulated mud.

The invention possesses other features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of my invention, as applied upon the tread surface of a link in the track of a track-laying tractor.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, showing only a portion of the track-link structure.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of my invention as applied upon the tread surface of a track-link.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3. I

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating another modified form of my detachable grouser.

Broadly my invention comprises a grouser adapted to be attached to or detached from the tread surface with the fingers only, no tools being required. In the claims I shall use the words detachably secured to characterize this method of f Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 4:, 1921. Serial No. 268,188.

tening the grouser to the tread plate or surface. The characteristics of the grouser are such that it is flexibly connected to the tread and is free to oscillate or swing within narrow limits.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the grouser of my invention comprises a series of links movably secured together one of the links belng a bar 2 preferably formed with three webs 3 radiating from a common axis and provided on its two ends with cylindrical lugs 4 alined with that axis. The overall length of the bar 2 is preferably slightly less than the width of the tread plate 6 of the track-link 5 upon which the grouser is adapted to be used. For purposes of illustration the tread plate 6 of Fig. 1 may also be taken to be a portion of the rim in a round-wheel tractor.

Each lug 4 is provided with an annular groove adapted to engage a closed or chain link 7 which is slipped over the head 8 of the lug and squeezed together in the middle to retain it in flexible and revoluble engagement with the lug. The link 7 is one of several chain links forming a chain which forms the connection between each end of the bar 2 and the tread plate. The free end link 9 of the chain is adapted to fit over the elongated head 11 of the post 12 fixed on the opposite or inner side of the tread plate. The elongation of the head 11 is in a direction parallel to the edge of the plate 6 so that in the position normally assumed by the link 9 after the grouser has been attached as illustrated in Fig. 1, it cannot become disengaged from the head. A recess 13 in the edge of the tread plate, and in which the chain engages tends to prevent swinging of the link 9 to a point where it might accidentally become loosened.

By holding the grouser bar close to the tread plate, there is sufficient slack in the fastening links to permit ready engagement or disengagement of the end links 9 with the posts 12. On hard road surfaces the grousers are not usually needed, but as occasion demands they may be applied quickly with the hands only.

A particular advantage of my grouser lies in its constant tendency to free itself from accumulated mud. In rice swamps and other flooded or soft lands the accumulations of mud on the tractor wheel or track become a serious problem. By reason of the relative movement of the links the grouser, and also by reason of the flexible connection of the links to the tread plate,

accumulations are loosened during the rotation of the wheel or track and the parts'are kept relatively free from dirt. The bar link 2 is free to turn about its axis in the links7, but when brought into contact with the ground the edges of two of the three webs press against the tread, leaving the third Web projecting into the soil perpendicular to the tread surface.

' For convenience in description the end chain links of the series of links may be considered means for attaching to the tread plate the remaining links which comprise the grouser proper.

In Figs. 3 and 4: l have shown a gro-user which differs from that just described only with hooks 17 which are adapted to be passed through apertures 18 in the edge of the tread plate.

I c-laima I 'I 1. In combination with a tread plate having oppositely matched side edges and posts adjacent the notches and fixed on the inner face of the tread, agrouser having a series of links extending from edge .to edge of the tread and passing through the notches, the end links being hooked over the posts.

2. In combination with a tread plate having posts fixed on the inner face of the tread, a grouser having a series of-links extending from edgeto edge otthe tread, the end links being hooked over the posts, the posts havparallel to the side edges of the plate to retain the-end links. I

3. A. grouseradapted to be attached to the tread face of a traction element and includlng a end lugs, and sets of links connected to said lugs and for attachment to the traction element. 7 I

In testimon whereof, I have'hereunto set my'hand at man Francisco, California, this 3d day of December, 1918. 5 o

' FER-D H. MEYER.

in cross-heads rotary bar having radial webs and' 

